1987– abandon childhood dreams of becoming a firefighter and instead plan to become an otorhinolaryngologist after seven positive strep tests and tonsillectomy in one year;
1993 – C- in organic chemistry redirects career plans towards mass communication vs. medicine;
1995 – join Chicago Bears PR team and learn the meaning of work ethic: 12-hour days / seven days a week, six months straight, with one weekend off between July and December;